"For 2,000+ Mile Round-Trip Drivers Only!" (IV)

[dvczerfs]

1,188 and 18:14 - New Haven to TTC via 95 using DC & Baltimore bypasses

1,279 miles, 19:44 95-78-81-77 This is 91 miles and 1-1/2 hrs longer according to google maps. BUT, it gets around NYC, Philly, Baltimore, and Washington.

It is a good bit longer, but it depends on what time of day you will travel through the cities and how much you want to maximize time vs gas, or just want to avoid city traffic. If you sitting in traffic around Baltimore and DC, it could make up the difference.

I do it from Central PA where it adds 25 miles and 30+ minutes. It actually saves time. However, for you, an 1-1/2 and 91 miles is a LOT longer trip. Too bad. I would probably do it just to make the drive better, but I'm not as familiar with travel around the big cities as others here are.

Enjoy!

I live in the Lehigh valley (Allentown area) I made the drive a few times.
78-81-77-26-95-4 is 70 miles longer for me then going 78-81-66-17-95-4, which by passes dc and balt.
I can do the inland route in 16 hours, I do the 95 route in 17 hours. it maybe longer miles but for me its faster. less traffic.
I have not driven i95 all the way in 25 years but im sure the traffic hasn't gotten any better.

safe travels everyone!!

 

[dvczerfs]

My wife's family lives in Titusville and we USE 528 to go to Disney. According to their website calculator, 528& 417 from 95 to near Disney will be $5.00, however, that is a LONG way out of your way to go all that way south and then head east. I know the traffic might be bad on I-4, but I wouldn't recommend that much of a detour unless it is around rush hour. But even at rush hour 528 and 417 will be busy.

If you are set on a detour, try Maytown road off 95 south of Edgewater, take it over to 415, and 415 down to 417, to Disney.

But, if you ask me, it isn't worth it because I-4 is a more direct than anything else.. It will be intersting if some others have any input.

 

[Yellowstonetim]

I live in the Lehigh valley (Allentown area) I made the drive a few times.
81-77-26-95-4 is 70 miles longer for me then going 78-81-66-17-95-4, which by passes dc and balt.
I can do the inland route in 16 hours, I do the 95 route in 17 hours. it maybe longer miles but for me its faster. less traffic.
I have not driven i95 all the way in 25 years but im sure the traffic hasn't gotten any better.

safe travels everyone!!

Wait, are you saying 78-81-77-26-95-4 is seventy miles longer than going 66-17-95-4? Oh, OK I checked it and it is 7 miles longer to go 66. Obviously your keyboard made an error. Mine does all the time. Must be the same brand.

1,017 miles, 15 hours 21 minutes from my house in Camp Hill to the Ticket and Transportation Center according to Google maps.

1,024 15 hours 45 minutes to go down 81 to 66 and cut over to 17 and back to 95.

Based on google maps, once you are on 81 at 66 it is both more miles and more time to go back to 95 so I don't bother. I like the drive down 81 and 77 better. They are very close, so I would use either of these two if there was construction on the other.

We are actually thinking of trying the Auto Train this time!!! Sorry, that's another thread.

 

[pwdebbie]

I live in the Lehigh valley (Allentown area) I made the drive a few times.

A few times?

What did you post a page or so ago -- You just completed your 55th drive?

Listen to all that this man has to say, folks. He KNOWS what he is talking about.

 

[dvczerfs]

A few times?

What did you post a page or so ago -- You just completed your 55th drive?

Listen to all that this man has to say, folks. He KNOWS what he is talking about.

Lol. It's 1086 miles from my house to okw going 78/81/66/17/95/4.
It's 1155 miles going from my house to okw going 78/81/77/26/95/4.

Yes, 55. 56 in 77 more days. At least once a year since 1973. Back when i95 wasn't done, you stopped at rest stop plazas and you got gas at 76 truck stops and ate at Howard Johnson's. lol

People ask me all the time, which way do I go? They argue and I just tell them, I know what way I go and how long it takes me from one point to another. Lol. I have the miles and times from different points on the way down and home. If they want to sit in traffic and crawl and sleep in your car, knock yourself out. Lol

I leave at 3am and pull into okw at 7 -7:30pm. It's like a normal day of driving for me. Lol

 

[capt445]

My wife's family lives in Titusville and we USE 528 to go to Disney. According to their website calculator, 528& 417 from 95 to near Disney will be $5.00, however, that is a LONG way out of your way to go all that way south and then head east. I know the traffic might be bad on I-4, but I wouldn't recommend that much of a detour unless it is around rush hour. But even at rush hour 528 and 417 will be busy.

If you are set on a detour, try Maytown road off 95 south of Edgewater, take it over to 415, and 415 down to 417, to Disney.

But, if you ask me, it isn't worth it because I-4 is a more direct than anything else.. It will be intersting if some others have any input.

Thanks for the info. I did some playing around with a mapping program and it is showing that it's about 20 minutes longer to do the 95-528-417 as opposed to I4. Since you have done the drive before, would you say that it is an easier drive than going through Orlando? Also, can you get Maytown Rd directly off of 95 or would I better off taking 44 over to 415?

Thanks
Mike

 

[Carriesouthard]

Will be scrolling through here later but just a brief intro. First trip as a family, me, DH, DS 4 and DD 2. Everyone thinks we are crazy. Leaving August 14 or 15 to get to resort on the 16th for one week. Going from Southern CT. 95 or alternate route? Wish we could drive straight through but doubt it will happen. Any tips/cautions/route info etc are welcome.

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We leave from CT on August 13th!! Struggling with options for the drive down as well. We are stopping in DC on the way home for a night but the way down I just can't decide what to do. DH really wants to go straight through. I want to be in Disney between 12-1 on the 14th as we have a RO at AKV for that one night. I want to be able to enjoy the resort! He can sleep anytime, anywhere so I'm really not concerned. He will nap at the resort for a few hours while myself and dds swim. Ideally we would leave our house at 2pm but there is NO way we ever would...NYC and DC traffic would kill us! What to do....

 

[dvczerfs]

Wait, are you saying 78-81-77-26-95-4 is seventy miles longer than going 66-17-95-4? Oh, OK I checked it and it is 7 miles longer to go 66. Obviously your keyboard made an error. Mine does all the time. Must be the same brand.

1,017 miles, 15 hours 21 minutes from my house in Camp Hill to the Ticket and Transportation Center according to Google maps.

1,024 15 hours 45 minutes to go down 81 to 66 and cut over to 17 and back to 95.

Based on google maps, once you are on 81 at 66 it is both more miles and more time to go back to 95 so I don't bother. I like the drive down 81 and 77 better. They are very close, so I would use either of these two if there was construction on the other.

We are actually thinking of trying the Auto Train this time!!! Sorry, that's another thread.

i don't take 81/77 in the winter. been there done that. spent the night at whites truck stop in the 80s because it may not be snowing on the bottom of the mountain but when you start climbing the mountains????? ( google maps don't tell you that. )

as far as construction, here in the Lehigh valley when they decide to work on a road, there is no other option but sit in traffic. rt22!!!!
head down south and when they are working on two lanes, a lot of the time, they build two lanes next to it. heck, Jacksonville has been under construction since the 70s.

i4 near i95 is under construction. blew by that at 2pm on a Saturday afternoon.

a lot of factors go into it. traffic, speed ,stops even how many people are in the car. when its just my wife and I, its faster then if out daughter is with us. nothing noticeable but it does slow you down. you have a mini van with 4 kids, its going to take you longer. it takes me longer in the Nissan and the mini van then it does in the Mercedes. I drive the same, about the same speed just goes faster in one car from the other.

 

[BC1836]

Ugh...I-95 in the daytime.

Although it wasn't our latest WDW drive, we drove back from Colonial Williamsburg yesterday, primarily via I-95. The daytime traffic in northern VA was the worst we ever experienced (no wonder we drive that route in the midnight hour). The Maryland part of the drive was just as bad. Ugh.

And the tolls are going up next month!

All the best.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Ugh...I-95 in the daytime.

Although it wasn't our latest WDW drive, we drove back from Colonial Williamsburg yesterday, primarily via I-95. The daytime traffic in northern VA was the worst we ever experienced (no wonder we drive that route in the midnight hour). The Maryland part of the drive was just as bad. Ugh.

And the tolls are going up next month!

All the best.

I guess if its really all that bad we can get off and switch to 81 or 77- can't we??
I hope so.
Wish us luck!!

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[ArwenMarie]

Ugh...I-95 in the daytime.

Although it wasn't our latest WDW drive, we drove back from Colonial Williamsburg yesterday, primarily via I-95. The daytime traffic in northern VA was the worst we ever experienced (no wonder we drive that route in the midnight hour). The Maryland part of the drive was just as bad. Ugh.

And the tolls are going up next month!

All the best.

Yep. We went to Williamsburg in May. Going south was ok and that was on a Thursday. Coming back up north on 95 was the worst traffic I have ever been in and it was Sunday. Maryland wasn't great either and then in NJ it was so bad that we actually got off and took back roads. That was some sort of construction too iirc.

 

[Goofygirl17]

Lol. It's 1086 miles from my house to okw going 78/81/66/17/95/4.
It's 1155 miles going from my house to okw going 78/81/77/26/95/4.

Yes, 55. 56 in 77 more days. At least once a year since 1973. Back when i95 wasn't done, you stopped at rest stop plazas and you got gas at 76 truck stops and ate at Howard Johnson's. lol

People ask me all the time, which way do I go? They argue and I just tell them, I know what way I go and how long it takes me from one point to another. Lol. I have the miles and times from different points on the way down and home. If they want to sit in traffic and crawl and sleep in your car, knock yourself out. Lol

I leave at 3am and pull into okw at 7 -7:30pm. It's like a normal day of driving for me. Lol

I took your advice 2 years ago and don't want to go back to the 95 route! The inland ride is so much nicer and it's shorter- no matter what the math says!

15 days!!

 

[DisMom1981]

We leave from CT on August 13th!! Struggling with options for the drive down as well. We are stopping in DC on the way home for a night but the way down I just can't decide what to do. DH really wants to go straight through. I want to be in Disney between 12-1 on the 14th as we have a RO at AKV for that one night. I want to be able to enjoy the resort! He can sleep anytime, anywhere so I'm really not concerned. He will nap at the resort for a few hours while myself and dds swim. Ideally we would leave our house at 2pm but there is NO way we ever would...NYC and DC traffic would kill us! What to do....

Ahhhh! I don't want to go "out if the way" but these i95 stories are making me panic!! Have to start playing with google maps I think. 2pm does seem like a bad idea lol.

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[Yellowstonetim]

Thanks for the info. I did some playing around with a mapping program and it is showing that it's about 20 minutes longer to do the 95-528-417 as opposed to I4. Since you have done the drive before, would you say that it is an easier drive than going through Orlando? Also, can you get Maytown Rd directly off of 95 or would I better off taking 44 over to 415?

Thanks
Mike

Oh, and pay no attention to my directions. Do not head EAST when you get to 528. You'll hit some rockets and land in the Atlantic. Head WEST instead.


Yes, it is an easier drive until you get to close to Orlando, then it all depends on the time of day.

44 to 415 would work fine. You are right, I double checked and there isn't an exist at Maytown os 44 is the way to go.

You could also go down I4 to 417 and use 417 as a bypass. A bit longer but would avoid I-4 in town and avoid small roads.

From the intersection of I4 and 417 north of town it is:
41.6 miles to the TTC ,
57.7 miles to go 417/528, (additional 6.6 miles)
59.3 miles to go 417 the whole way. (additional 7.7 miles)

The thing is, Orlando has grown enough that 417 may have traffic as well. Again, it depends on time of day.
Near Orlando at rush hour you will have traffic everywhere. Outside of Orlando the traffic flows pretty well on any of these roads.

 

[capt445]

Do not head EAST when you get to 528. You'll hit some rockets and land in the Atlantic. Head WEST instead.

I figured we would end up getting wet if we went EAST. Thank you for your suggestions, we have 33 days to make a decision, and I'll probably make it at the intersection of 95 and 4. We usually take the I65-75 through Antlanta route, but we have an extra day this time and thought we would try something different. Thanks again.

Mike

 

[DisMom1981]

Ok experienced drivers....What is your arrival plan? Do you stop and get groceries/must haves before entering the resort or do you check in first and then head out.....or do you bypass and use Garden Grocer? What do you pack from your home grocer? What are the other advantages of having your own car besides free parking/no Dis transportation to deal with? What size milk can we fit in the Pop refrigerator?

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[pwdebbie]

Once we pull into the resort, we are NOT leaving for groceries! I pack the cooler before we leave. EVERYTHING goes into ziploc bags so that as the ice melts nothing gets soggy. We stay overnight on the road and the next morning we replace our ice. We also stop about an hour out of WDW for some of the things that I've realized we left at home -- this trip it was the Half and Half.

I pack lunchmeat and cheese, string cheese, yogurt, grapes, maybe some hard boiled eggs. We also take two flats of water and a twelve-pack of Snapple (not in the cooler, of course). We also take bread, granola bars, pretzels, and chips. Actually, we take way more than we should but when I leave the house I am determined to stick to the diet and after I've been there three days I no longer care about the diet, lol.


I bet the POP thread can tell you about milk jugs in the refrigerator. I know there are pics on the POFQ thread I follow, but I don't know that POP has the same refrigerators.

 

[DisMom1981]

Once we pull into the resort, we are NOT leaving for groceries! I pack the cooler before we leave. EVERYTHING goes into ziploc bags so that as the ice melts nothing gets soggy. We stay overnight on the road and the next morning we replace our ice. We also stop about an hour out of WDW for some of the things that I've realized we left at home -- this trip it was the Half and Half.

I pack lunchmeat and cheese, string cheese, yogurt, grapes, maybe some hard boiled eggs. We also take two flats of water and a twelve-pack of Snapple (not in the cooler, of course). We also take bread, granola bars, pretzels, and chips. Actually, we take way more than we should but when I leave the house I am determined to stick to the diet and after I've been there three days I no longer care about the diet, lol.

I bet the POP thread can tell you about milk jugs in the refrigerator. I know there are pics on the POFQ thread I follow, but I don't know that POP has the same refrigerators.

Awesome! Thanks! Can you bring your own water into the parks?

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[dvczerfs]

Ok experienced drivers....What is your arrival plan? Do you stop and get groceries/must haves before entering the resort or do you check in first and then head out.....or do you bypass and use Garden Grocer? What do you pack from your home grocer? What are the other advantages of having your own car besides free parking/no Dis transportation to deal with? What size milk can we fit in the Pop refrigerator?

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we are just the opposite of pw.

we check in at okw. pick up the locker, unload the car, put things away.(don't take long anymore)

we head down to publix, we split up, dw does the deli counter and I grab everything else.

come back to okw, put it away. all takes about an hour and a half. we do bring a cooler but just have drinks and over the road sandwiches.

years ago we would bring everything and the kitchen sink. now, we travel a lot lighter and with the locker, we are down to one suite case and one small bag and two pillows. if we stay over night on the way down, we have another small bag.

cant help you with the milk container size. we stay in one bedrooms at okw and have a full size frig and freezer.

we also have a full size washer and dryer so we don't have to pack as many clothes. that saves a lot of bags.

 

[DisMom1981]

we are just the opposite of pw.

we check in at okw. pick up the locker, unload the car, put things away.(don't take long anymore)

we head down to publix, we split up, dw does the deli counter and I grab everything else.

come back to okw, put it away. all takes about an hour and a half. we do bring a cooler but just have drinks and over the road sandwiches.

years ago we would bring everything and the kitchen sink. now, we travel a lot lighter and with the locker, we are down to one suite case and one small bag and two pillows. if we stay over night on the way down, we have another small bag.

cant help you with the milk container size. we stay in one bedrooms at okw and have a full size frig and freezer.

we also have a full size washer and dryer so we don't have to pack as many clothes. that saves a lot of bags.

Wish we were staying in such accommodations!!!! #someday

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